In the summer of 2024, the Knob Hill neighborhood of Colorado Springs became the scene of a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 52-year-old David Charles Compare. On the evening of July 27th, officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department were dispatched to the 700 block of East Hills Road following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Compare deceased at the scene, having sustained at least one gunshot wound.
The El Paso County Coroner's Office later confirmed his identity, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
The investigation into the death of the male victim quickly evolved as detectives worked to identify those responsible. Initially, no suspects were in custody, and the police appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. The case marked the 23rd homicide in Colorado Springs for the year, a notable increase from the 16 homicides recorded by the same time in the previous year.
Within weeks, the investigation led to significant breakthroughs. On August 1st, an arrest warrant for murder was issued for 49-year-old Victor Carson. A second suspect, 36-year-old Roger Vargas, was also charged with murder in connection with Compare's death on August 8th. At the time the charges were filed, Vargas was already incarcerated at the Bent County Jail on unrelated matters.
For a period, Victor Carson remained at large. However, on October 23, 2024, a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Colorado Springs Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, located Carson. He was found in a stolen vehicle and followed to an apartment on North Nevada Avenue. After barricading himself inside, Carson eventually surrendered to officers without incident. He was subsequently arrested and charged with the murder of David Charles Compare, bringing a significant development to the ongoing investigation.
